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Volunteer/Intern

Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

Fashion Archives Internship

The Maryland Historical Society is pleased to offer summer positions to successful pre-program applicants for its annual Fashion Archives Internship Program. This year’s program will focus on conservation, mounting, and exhibition preparation of costume and accessories for the upcoming exhibition The Spectrum of Fashion: Highlights from the Fashion Archives at the Maryland Historical Society, opening October 5, 2019.

The Maryland Historical Society was founded in 1844 by an extraordinary constellation of civic leaders. Among them are familiar names: Hopkins, Key, Garrett, and Pratt. Nearly 170 years later, MdHS is the oldest continuously operated cultural institution in Maryland. In many ways, our current activities reflect those of our founders. MdHS remains the preeminent steward of Maryland artifacts and continues to function as a publisher, a research library, a museum of history and the arts, a lecture and conference venue, and a memorial to the definitive conflicts that helped forge Maryland’s unique identity.

The fashion collection at the Maryland Historical Society includes an impressive range of clothing and fashion accessories spanning four centuries and numbering over 10,000 pieces. Rare examples survive in the collection including the uniform of Revolutionary War hero, Tench Tilghman, gowns worn by Elizabeth Bonaparte and the Duchess of Windsor, as well as early couture pieces from Parisian and American couture houses such as the House of Worth and Lottie Barton.

Interns will assist collection staff in preparing costumes and accessories for display in the upcoming exhibition The Spectrum of Fashion. Treatments will include vacuuming, stabilization, and humidification, with an emphasis on proper costume mounting techniques and support for display. Interns will also assist the collection staff in installation of the pieces in the exhibition space. Interns will use blogging and social media platforms to document and promote the program throughout the process. Finally, interns will do a short presentation on their summer project for the public at the end of the internship.

Successful candidates will have an interest in costume and costume history, good hand and eye skills, a working knowledge of housing textiles, and be trained in the proper handling and care of collections. An ideal applicant is highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work independently as well as with a small group. Competency in basic sewing techniques is preferred, but not required. A Bachelor’s Degree in conservation, costume history, collection management or the equivalent is required.

The Maryland Historical Society will accept two interns for a period of 10 weeks with flexible start dates. Each intern will receive a stipend of $1,500 and is expected to work 28-35 hours a week.

To apply, please send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for two references to: